BaseballPirates seize thrilling series clincher

GREENVILLE — East Carolina came back from a 5-0 deficit after five innings to score three times in the bottom of the ninth for a 6-5 American Athletic Conference win over Cincinnati at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Sunday.

Connor Litton hit a two-run single to right to give the Pirates the series, 2-1, on ECU’s Senior Day.

Turner Brown led off the Pirates’ half of the ninth with a home run to right to cut the Bearcats’ lead to 5-4.

Bryant Packard followed Brown with a single to right. A pair of wild pitches put Packard at third before walks to Bryson Worrell and Spencer Brickhouse loaded the bases.

Litton was down 0-2 on a pair of swinging strikes before hitting a liner to right to bring in Packard and Worrell.

Cole Murphy’s two-run homer in the fifth extended Cincinnati’s lead to 5-0.

Jake Kuchmaner (3-0) pitched the last two innings without allowing a hit with one walk and two strikeouts.

Jake Agnos started and yielded three earned runs in one and two-thirds innings. Trey Benton had four strikeouts in two-and-two-thirds scoreless innings.